Expansion at Porters Ski Area Approved

Wed 18 April 12

The $500 million proposal to expand Porters Ski Area into Crystal Valley and build a year-round alpine village at the foot of
the ski area has been given the necessary resource consents and plan change approvals to proceed.

Commissioners appointed by Environment Canterbury and Selwyn District Council to consider the applications by Porters

Ski Area Ltd released their joint decision today after a nine day hearing over July and August last year.

The resource consents decision is subject to a 15-working day appeal period and the Plan Change is subject to a 40-working

day appeal period once it is adopted and notified by the Selwyn District Council.

Porters Expansion involves the building of a new family-friendly ski area in Crystal Valley adjacent to the existing ski area at a

cost of about $60 million.

Scheduled for opening in winter 2015, the new ski area would comprise an extensive snowmaking system on all main trials,

three chairlifts and New Zealand’s first ski area gondola lift, along with a large day lodge and crèche.

Also operating in 2015 would be the expanded ski area’s base facilities on the site of the proposed village. These would include the gondola’s bottom station, a small hot pools complex, sealed car parking and the first of the village apartments. This

first stage of the village would cost about $115 million.

A key part of Porters Expansion proposal was two land exchanges involving the Department of Conservation.

In return for obtaining freehold for the village site (15ha) and in Crystal Valley, Porters agreed to buy and restore two high